Algerian cuisine is a multifaceted and ancient cooking style that has developed over centuries of influence from many cultures. It is a combination of North African and Mediterranean elements, with influences from countries like Spain, France, Italy and Morocco. Algeria’s national dish, couscous, is one of the most famous dishes in the world and is popular throughout the country.
Couscous is a type of steamed semolina flour made from wheat or barley. It is usually served with vegetables, meat or fish in a stew-like sauce.
The most popular variation of couscous is called “méchoui”, which consists of roasted lamb or mutton cooked in an aromatic broth with ginger, garlic, cumin and other spices. This dish is often served with traditional accompaniments such as tomatoes, peppers, olives and onions.
Another popular Algerian dish is brik, which consists of a deep-fried pastry filled with tuna or egg. Brik can also be filled with ground beef or vegetables such as spinach or mushrooms. It is usually served with a spicy tomato sauce.
Harira soup is another famous Algerian dish that has become popular around the world. This hearty soup features lamb or beef stock along with chickpeas, lentils and tomatoes for a rich flavor. Common spices used in harira include saffron, cinnamon and coriander.
Merguez sausages are also very popular in Algeria. These spicy sausages are traditionally made from sheep or lamb meat mixed with cumin and other spices like paprika and chili pepper.
Chorba, a hearty stew made from vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and peas cooked in a tomato-based broth flavored with garlic, onion and herbs like cilantro, parsley or mint leaves, is another classic Algerian dish.
Algerian cuisine also includes many sweets such as kalbelouz, which are honey-covered almonds; makrout, which are date-filled pastries; ghoriba, which are shortbread cookies; and halwa, which is made from semolina wheat cooked in buttery syrup.
In conclusion, Algeria offers an array of internationally renowned dishes that have been shaped by centuries of cultural influences. Couscous remains the country’s national dish but there are many other delicious options to choose from including brik pastries filled with tuna or egg; harira soup featuring lamb or beef stock; merguez sausages; chorba stew; kalbelouz honey-covered almonds; makrout date-filled pastries; ghoriba shortbread cookies; halwa semolina wheat cooked in syrup – all these dishes making up what makes famous food in Algeria!